by Aprille Clark and Miles Crall

“The Wabash Cannonball,” originally published in 1882, is the oldest song in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Read more

by Ed Flaherty

“Ridin’ on the City of New Orleans, Illinois Central,  Monday mornin’ rail… Good Mornin’ America How Are Ya?” Written by Steve Goodman (rip), famously performed by Arlo Guthrie, now to be wonderfully performed by the FAMILY FOLK MACHINE on Nov 15th and 22nd!

by Tammy Coverdale-Bauer

This song was written by Goebel Reeves and performed by many artists including Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Emmylou Harris, and The Kingston Trio. What’s interesting to me is that its music is nearly identical to popular Civil War Era composer George F. Root’s song, “Just Before The Battle, Mother” and is reminiscent of the Carter Family song, “Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes.”

Another version of the song was recorded by Sharon, Lois, and Bram in 1979, which appeared in their Elephant Show in 1985.

This isn’t just an American song either, Hobo’s Lullaby has been translated and sung in French by Graeme Allwright. Here’s a link to the French version: https://youtu.be/22u3k4RPtuw
And here’s an Arlo Guthrie version with some great images to go with this heartfelt song:

Tobin’s illustration depicts the North driving the South down and the people who felt the impact.

by Aprille Clarke and Tobin Crall

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” was written by Robbie Robertson of The Band and later covered by Joan Baez. Read more

Here’s the latest good press about the Family Folk Machine from the Cedar Rapids Gazette! Read more

It’s time to get together for some community singing!

Join us this Saturday from 3:00 to 4:30 for our monthly all-request sing-along. Bring instruments, friends, neighbors, and children. We’ll have Rise Up Singing books, and Uptown Bill’s will provide the cozy atmosphere. Read more

Join us September 26, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., for our video-release party! We’ll premiere the video at the Senior Center and then parade down to Chauncey Swan Park for refreshments, games, and singing.

It’s time to get together for some community singing!

Join us this Saturday from 3:00 to 4:30 for our monthly all-request sing-along. Bring instruments, friends, neighbors, and children. We’ll have Rise Up Singing books, and Uptown Bill’s will provide the cozy atmosphere. Read more

Rehearsals for “The Traveling Kind” start this Sunday! I am so excited to see our new/old Folk Machine reassemble. It’s really fun for me to put together arrangements of our songs while thinking about what the notes are going to mean once real people are singing them. Read more

This article by Jean Littlejohn appeared in the Press Citizen on Monday, August 10, 2015.

The Family Folk Machine starts rehearsals on August 23 for our fall session, “The Traveling Kind.” Read more